Fats or vats: does spelling matter?

INTRODUCTION

A certain King James Bible only teacher said, “Some critics like to point to Joel 3:13 where some KJBs read ‘fat’ while others read ‘vats’ as proof the KJB is flawed. Who are these people and what is the answer?” (The word “fat” is the Biblical spelling of was is today spelled a “vat”, which is used in wine making.)

Of course, there are critics of the King James Bible who would indeed seek to cast doubt on the accuracy of the King James Bible and would want to undermine the continuing use of it. They would ask which is correct, should it be “fats” or “vats”? And if some King James Bibles have been printed with one spelling (most have “fats”), and some with another (a few more recent examples have “vats”), they then seek to undermine the Bible itself. If we are supposed to believe that the Bible is the Word of God, what is it, is it “fats” or is it “vats”?

But this KJBO teacher made a presentation where he said that there were King James Bible people who were using a spelling variation maybe to unintentionally condemn people or maybe to promote the particular printing ministry associated with their church. That is not the way Christian charity (love in action) should work, as the KJBO teacher rightly addressed this issue. But sadly, like many of the older KJBOs, he did not quite rightly explain or understand the “fats” versus “vats” issue, because although he said he was against modernising spelling today, he said that the smallest unit of preservation was only words, not letters or parts of words (which would relate to spelling, etc.).

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We are Laodiceans

It is well known that the seven churches mentioned in Revelation chapters two and three record seven period of Church history. Most analyses agree:
1. Ephesian: Early Church
2. Smyrna: second and third centuries persecuted Christianity
3. Pergamos: from Constantine to the rise of the Roman Catholic institution
4. Thyatira: Christians during the Papal era
5. Sardis: from the Reformation to the French Revolution
6. Philadelphia Church: the missionary era Church
7. Laodiceans Church: the present time last days Church

Often people point to the Philadelphian as a high point and then sneer at the compromise and weakness of the Laodicean Church which is lukewarm, indifferent, deluded and growing apostate. This view is espoused by people as diverse as Independent Fundamentalist Baptists to Russian master philosopher Alexander Dugin.

We are not in the Philadelphian era, but the true Christians today are the good Laodiceans versus the bad ones.

Re 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Re 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Re 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Re 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Re 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Re 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Re 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Re 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Jesus gives the solution to the Laodiceans. Notice that some can and will heed His warning. Now the promise for the Laodiceans who believe is:

1. Wisdom and riches
2. Holiness and true salvation
3. Discernment and proper interpretation

And it gets better, Jesus promises a feast for those who will heed his call. The supper is not just the heavenly one, but now in this time, present time blessings.

So it is good to be a Laodicean Christian, to be one who has bought the gold, got dressed, sees clearly, heeds the call of Jesus and enters full blessing.

The warning for the others is that they will depart out of the Body of Christ.